In this telling, the Chinese hero Mulan's journey to greatness begins after her younger sister, Xiu, is bitten by a spider-the shapeshifter White Fox demon Daji in disguise. Daji believes Xiu is the girl prophesized to one day save the emperor. The healer who arrives to help is an immortal, Jade Rabbit, who explains that the medicine that will save Xiu requires two hard-to-obtain ingredients, one of which resides in the garden of the Queen of the Immortals. Mulan, who believes herself is a failure at everything a good daughter should be, adores her perfect sister. Ignoring all conventions and expectations, she sets off on her beloved horse, Black Wind, to join Jade Rabbit on a quest to find the ingredients. Their search is complicated by Daji who, assisted by Red Fox, repeatedly tries to trap, hinder, and mislead Mulan in various guises. Meanwhile, Jade Rabbit is growing increasingly weak, having also been bitten by Daji's spider form, which forces Mulan to take the lead more and more in their quest. Eventually Mulan finds herself in the midst of an army of warriors, desperate to hide her identity, only to discover that as her true self she can lead them all. Irresistible characters inspired by Chinese folklore, an action-packed plot, numerous stories-within-the-story that further illuminate histories and connections among the characters, and beautiful bookmaking combine in this rich and lively tale. (Ages 8-12)